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Re: Mexico cartel chief 'El Chapo' captured alive, says US official

Originally Posted by americanwoman

There are actually two guys that may or may not be trying to take his place in the Sinaloan Cartel. If the power gets handed over smoothly it could be business as usual. If there is any power struggle that will make a huge difference both for the Sinaloan cartel and the other ones who will jump at that.

It will make a huge difference for us people waling the streets here in Sinaloa.

Re: Mexico cartel chief 'El Chapo' captured alive, says US official

Here's an interesting article I found. Unfortunately, with the successes in Columbia purging their drug cartels, this could explain why the problem seems to have exploded in Mexico.

Plan Colombia might have been considered a success from the perspective of the US and Colombian governments. According to estimates, efficient training and the dramatic expansion of local police forces and military following Álvaro Uribe’s election as president in 2002, led to a 60 per cent drop in cocaine production by 2009. Today the country is no longer exclusively associated with the drug. However, Plan Colombia didn’t eradicate the problem but only succeeded in pushing the drug traffickers towards Mexico.

In Mexico, 2010 was the bloodiest year since the beginning of the crackdown with over 10,000 gang-related killings.The drug trade in Mexico originated in the 1980s and was characterised by transport organisations. Mexico was a transshipment point, being a direct neighbour of the US. With the demise of the Colombian Cali and Medellin cartels under Plan Colombia and the closure of the Caribbean cocaine route, the Mexican cartels became the predominant smugglers of South American drugs. Facing this new threat, the US launched the Merida Initiative. Similar to Plan Colombia, the initiative aims at expanding and supplying Mexican security forces with security training on a technological and hands-on basis.

This is a REALLY complicated issue with so many different layers and players. I don't know if the problem will ever be fully eradicated, but I think they could follow the Colombia model and at least make it a safer place for residents.

Re: Mexico cartel chief 'El Chapo' captured alive, says US official

Here's an interesting article I found. Unfortunately, with the successes in Columbia purging their drug cartels, this could explain why the problem seems to have exploded in Mexico.

This is a REALLY complicated issue with so many different layers and players. I don't know if the problem will ever be fully eradicated, but I think they could follow the Colombia model and at least make it a safer place for residents.

I don't think Columbia was a safe place for the residents while the operation was going on. Maybe afterwards it was for the people that were still alive.

Re: Mexico cartel chief 'El Chapo' captured alive, says US official

Originally Posted by Mason66

I don't think Columbia was a safe place for the residents while the operation was going on. Maybe afterwards it was for the people that were still alive.

Oh no, not while the "war" was happening, but I'm talking about now. I think that life has improved there for a lot of people. No longer living in fear and under the thumb of drug cartels, or at least less so than in the past.

Re: Mexico cartel chief 'El Chapo' captured alive, says US official

It is not just the US, it is other places as well. I also don't think the cartels are going to disappear if the US legalizes all drugs.

Just like in Colorado, they are taxing it so much people are still going to buy it illegally, just now they can't be arrested for possession or use.

They might not "disappear" but it might really hurt "business" for them. They probably wouldn't be NEARLY as powerful. I just wonder about the unintended consequences of legalizing drugs like cocaine, or even harder drugs.

Re: Mexico cartel chief 'El Chapo' captured alive, says US official

Originally Posted by ChrisL

They might not "disappear" but it might really hurt "business" for them. They probably wouldn't be NEARLY as powerful. I just wonder about the unintended consequences of legalizing drugs like cocaine, or even harder drugs.

Re: Mexico cartel chief 'El Chapo' captured alive, says US official

Originally Posted by ChrisL

They might not "disappear" but it might really hurt "business" for them. They probably wouldn't be NEARLY as powerful. I just wonder about the unintended consequences of legalizing drugs like cocaine, or even harder drugs.

Unless they were taxed outrageously, it's hard to see how the smugglers could compete with above board producers.

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